A YOUNG couple narrowly escaped prison sentences after admitting trying to cover up a car crash.

It follows an accident in which a Volkswagen Polo collided with a Rover Mini Mayfair having taken a junction in Bearpark, near Durham, “at speed”, at 12-noon, on August 27, last year.

Durham Crown Court heard that the Polo was registered to Fiona Claire Tait, but it was driven by her unlicensed boyfriend Stephen Anthony Morton.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said Morton told the female driver of the Mayfair he would, “sort it”, before driving away without exchanging details.

A witness took the Polo registration number and reported it to police.

Mr Dodds said another witness later overheard a row outside a neighbouring home in which Tait berated Morton for crashing her new car.

The couple were heard discussing avoiding liability and an attempt was made to remove the Polo’s registration plate before the car was covered with a dust sheet.

Tait later claimed the car changed hands the day before the accident, but the purported new ‘owner’ did not exist.

Both Tait and Morton were arrested but denied knowledge of the accident.

Mr Dodds said the Mayfair owner lost £500 in excess on insurance and loss of no claims bonus.

Morton, 24, of Edward Terrace, New Kyo, near Stanley, and 22-year-old Tait, of Lingey Close, Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Ros Scott Bell, for Morton, said he regrets taking the car, merely to buy a pint of milk.

But, she said there were no injuries in the accident and no-one else was blamed.

Chris Morrison, for Tait, who is of previous good character, described it as, “a bungled, amateurish attempt” to avoid blame, which was, “easily exposed”.

Recorder Penny Moreland said it merited a prison sentence, but due to the young age of the couple and their relative lack of previous convictions, she was “just” able to avoid immediate custody.

Morton received a 12-month sentence, suspended for 18 months, during which he must undergo probation supervision and attend an alcohol reduction programme.

Tait received a nine-month sentence, suspended for a year, also with supervision.

Both will also be subject to three months’ overnight curfew, in Morton’s case from 8pm – 7am and for Tait, from 8pm – 7am, but, when at work as a care assistant, between 11pm and 5am.